The percentage of respondents in agreement with the statement, “Infant formula is as good as breastmilk,” increased significantly from 14.3% in 1999 to 25.7% in 2003. The increase was particularly large among people of low socioeconomic status. The percentage increase in agreement that “feeding a baby formula instead of breastmilk increases the chances the baby will get sick” grew at a statistically significant level, but the total change was small (2.7 percentage points).

Li, R, Rock VJ, Grummer-Strawn L. “Changes in Public Attitudes toward Breastfeeding in the United States, 1999-2003.” J Am Diet Assoc. 2007 Jan.; 107(1):122-7.

I find it so disturbing that one out of every four adults in the United States believes that formula is as good as breast milk. The authors use this troubling data as a reminder to health professionals that they should recommend human milk for all infants.

To me this simply underscores how public education initiatives like the National Breastfeeding Awareness Campaign (with its slogan “Babies were born to be breastfed”) are necessary. The campaign has been controversial because it might make mothers who formula-feed their babies (for whatever reason) feel bad. I wonder, how else are we going to change perceptions about breastfeeding? Do mothers who formula-feed really object to others being educated about the benefits of breastfeeding? Perhaps they might feel a twinge of regret, longing or defiance, but not grudging.

I’m not in the business of making women feel bad if they choose formula (or if they don’t have a choice). However, I do believe it’s important to spread the word about the benefits of breast milk in order to counteract such erroneous public beliefs about breastfeeding.

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